The Ultimate Guide to User Generated Content Ecommerce

Domenic Smith
Domenic Smith
DTC brands independent consultant

If you’re an ecommerce brand, you’re probably already aware of how important a thorough marketing strategy is.

User generated content is one type of marketing you can incorporate into your strategy, especially if you want your business to stand out from the crowd.

So, what is user generated content ecommerce, and how can you get started with it today? Let’s find out.

What is user generated content for ecommerce?

User generated content ecommerce is content, including videos, text, product reviews, imagery, and more, created by anyone who is officially unaffiliated with your brand. In other words, they are not a brand employee creating sole content for your ecommerce business.

User generated content is usually posted by people like influencers on social media platforms (both theirs and yours), as well as for advertisements and your website, etc.

Before we share how you can get started with this form of marketing, let’s look at the different types of e commerce user generated content you can use.

woman looking at her phone while her laptop screen is on an ecommerce website

The varying types of e commerce user generated content

Brand or product review

A brand or product review from a customer significantly increases trust with an audience, and improves conversions. Did you know that customer reviews shared via Twitter increase sales by 6.46% on average?

Additionally, 72% of potential customers won’t buy until they’ve read an online review. Encouraging customers to leave online reviews is imperative, particularly when it comes to making sales.

Discussion boards and forums

Having a discussion board or forum on your ecommerce website is a place for your new and existing customers to connect with you. Additionally, it can be an effective place for answering questions at different stages of the buyer journey.

If you are using this strategy, it’s a good idea to monitor boards and forums for complaints and negative feedback. No brand is immune from negativity, but reaching out directly to your customer is an active way to address problems, and transform them into a positive buying experience.

Influencer marketing

Influencer marketing is a huge industry. A whopping 87% of consumers state that they were inspired to make a purchase by an influencer. Furthermore, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube are the top 3 platforms for brands using influencer marketing.

When you choose the right influencers for your brand, this marketing strategy can be hugely successful in achieving your goals, whether that’s improving conversions, increasing awareness, or enhancing engagement.

Social media platforms

As well as working with social media influencers, it’s important to utilize your own social media accounts to their full potential. One effective way to do this for user generated content is to establish your own brand hashtags.

For example, West Elm use the hashtag #mywestelm to encourage users to share their purchases on Instagram – an ideal method of building up a content library, and showing the West Elm audience how to style their products.

man is typing on his laptop

The benefits of incorporating user generated content on ecommerce into your marketing strategy

There are a multitude of benefits for utilizing user generated content on ecommerce. Here are a few reasons why you should get in on the act:

  • Enhances trust
  • Increases conversions
  • Boosts organic search results
  • Drives traffic to your website
  • Improves brand awareness
  • Enhances the customer experience
  • Helps to grow your content library
  • Inspires brand loyalty

Now you’re aware of the types of user generated content ecommerce and their benefits, let’s take a look at the most important part – how to get started!

Desk with many laptops

How to get started with user generated content and influencer marketing

Influencer marketing is an ideal way to get started with user generated content for your ecommerce brand. Using influencers, you can create content for your social media platforms, video content, ads, blog posts, and alternative campaigns.

Searching for the perfect influencers can be challenging. Where do you even start to look when there are so many out there?

Insense is the definitive starting point for all ecommerce brands. Insense has a database of thousands of vetted influencers with a wide range of followers, engagement, and budgets.

Whether you’re looking to create content for a sponsored Instagram post, or you wish to make a video for your YouTube account, you can seamlessly collaborate with creators to work on the campaigns you need to execute. Insense is even linked with Facebook Ads Manager so you can publish your adverts quickly, and efficiently.

Collaborating with influencers via Insense enables you to work with creators who are able to think outside of the box – you gain an authentic piece of content created by consumers for consumers.

Furthermore, you don’t need to worry about a limited budget as you can converse with creators via the marketplace, and offer a product in exchange for content rather than monetary payment. Just remember that each individual will set their own unique fee.

desk with one laptop, one phone, a notebook, glasses and a lamp

Start searching for content creators today

User generated content ecommerce is a painless way to make an impact on potential consumers. With an array of benefits, and varying types of content to produce, there’s something for all ecommerce brands to strategize.

Start searching for your ideal influencers today via Insense.

Share this article
Domenic Smith

Get started with Insense today

Start getting UGC and collaborating with creators for organic posting and whitelisted ad campaigns.

Diverse images of creators

You might also like...